The population of Estonia was estimated to be 1,324,333 in 2006, giving the country an average population density of 29 persons per sq km (76 per sq mi). However, the northern portion of the country, where the largest cities are located, is much more densely inhabited than the south.

According to information published by the Estonian Statistical Office in 2006, the population of Estonia comprised the following self-reported ethnic groups: 68.6% Estonians, 25.7% Russians, 2.1% Ukrainians, 1.2% Belarusians, 0.8% Finns, 0.2% Tatars, 0.17% Latvians, 0.16% Poles, 0.15% Jews, 0.15% Lithuanians, 0.14% Germans, 0.68% Others

Estonia is highly urbanized, with 69 percent of the people living in cities or towns. Nearly one-third of the total population resides in the capital, Tallinn, on the northern coast. The only significant population concentrations in the south and west are in the cities of Tartu, an important cultural center, and Pärnu, a popular seaside resort. The Russian minority in Estonia is overwhelmingly urban and forms a majority of the population in some northeastern cities, including Narva and Kohtla-Järve. Ethnic Estonians are more evenly distributed throughout the country, and even urban dwellers maintain strong rural ties.